Glass building block



May 24,. 1938. J. H. FOX

GLASS BUILDING BLOCK Filed Sept. 12, 1936 INVEN TOFE doH/v Mf -"0% QNEYG.

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Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED STATES GLASS BUILDING BLOCK John H. Fox, Pittsb n Pa., assignor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 12, 1936, Serial No. 100,475

3 Claims.

5 tofore used and which has more strength and better insulating capacity. A further object is the provision of a block of the character specifled in which the appearance of the block is in no way marred by the use of the wire mesh employed as, a reinforcing. Certain embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through one form of block. And Fig. 2 is a similar section through a modification.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the glass sections 3, 3 are of the usual rectangular cup shape with their edges in opposition, and between such edges is a sheet of wire glass 4 carrying a wire reinforcing preierably oi the standard mesh form. This sheet may be of polished or unpolished plate glass, and the parts are preferably secured together by assembling and pressing when at a temperature sui'iicient to adhere by welding, although a joinder may be secured by theme a suitable cement. In any case, the three parts are rigidly secured together in sealin relation and preferably so that a partial vacuum is provided in the two cells on opposite sides oi the sheet 4. The use of the sheet of wire glass makes the block suitable for protection against fire, as the sheet will remain intact where the breaking away of a block under severe heat would otherwise produce a hole through the wall oi which the block is a part. In many cases, the presence 01' the wire glass sheet will also prevent one half of the block from being destroyed after the other half has been broken away under severe heat conditions. The reinforced sheet iurther materially increases the strength of the block against crushing stresses and adds to its insulating capacity.

In order to prevent the wire mesh in the sheet from being noticeably visible, which visibility is somewhat objectionable from the standpoint of appearance, the inner faces 5, 5 of the side walls of the sections 3, 3 are preferably formed so as to diil'use the light to a substantial degree. This may be done by etching or coating these surfaces or by. giving them a battered or corrugated contour or by combining the two expedients. This may even be done in such a manner as to add to the ornamental appearance of the block without unduly reducing its light transmitting capacity.

The construction of Fig. 2 parallels that of Fig. 1 except that the edges of the wire glass sheet 6 extends out past the opposing edges of the sections I, I. This simplifies the construction of the molds for forming the sections and gives an irregularity to the edges of the block so that a better surface for engaging the cement or plaster lying between the blocks is provided.

What I claim is:

1. A glass block comprising a pair of opposing similar rectangular cup sections opening toward each other, and a sheet of wire glass between the opposing edges of the sections, all secured rigidly together at said edges in sealing relation.

2. A glass block comprising a pair of opposing similar rectangular cup sections opening toward. each other, and a sheet of wire glass between the opposing edges of the sections, all secured rigidly together at said edges in sealing relation, and the inner'faces of the sections in opposition to the side faces of said sheet being surfaced so as to obscure the reinforcing in the sheet.

3. A glass block comprising a pair of opposing similar rectangular cup sections opening toward each other, and a sheet of wire glass 01' substantially the same length and width as the sections lying between the opposing edges 0! the sections, the sections and sheet being rigidly secured together in sealing relation at said edges.

' JOHN H. FOX. 

